Saddle construction



May 25, 1965 R. A. FAULHABER SADDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed July so. 1963 INVENTOR. ROLAND A. FAULHABER BY e 41/ an i i United States Patent 3,18 ,522 SADDLE CONSTRUCTION Roland A. Faulhaber, Memphis, Tenn., assignor to Troxel Manu iug Comp ny. M sc eam, a po tion of Ohio Filed July 30, 1963., Self. No.\298,674 1 Claim. (Cl, 297.214)

This invention relates to a saddle of the type adapted for use on tricycles, bicycles, and the like.

Presently, in this country, there is much emphasis on health and exercise. For example, the present administration of the United States, in its health program, has promoted outdoor exercise such as SO-mile hikes, bicycling, etc. The present invention is in keeping with this program since it is contemplated that, with the use of the present invention, more prolonged cycle rides may be accomplished without tiring and without injuring certain parts of the body. directed towards overcoming the tendency of previous saddles to cause or aggravate spinal injuries.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an orthopedic saddle that substantially eliminates any injuries to the bones of the sacral and coccygeal regions, particularly when riding over bumpy or rough surfaces. i

A further object is to provide such a saddle that permits more prolonged rides on cycles without the rider suffering from tiredness due to continual pressure and bumping against the terminal bones of the spine.

A further object is to provide such a saddle that is more comfortable than previous saddles.

A further object is to provide such a saddle that is particularly advantageous for those who have certain back ailments.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction of saddles.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of the saddle of the present invention as mounted on a cycle, with only a fragmentary portion of the cycle being shown, and with a fragmentary and diagrammatic skeletal view of a rider shown seated on the saddle.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the saddle of the present invention and showing in dotted lines the portions over which the ischia and the coccyx of a rider are disposed.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the saddle of the present invention with its associated mounting parts and with a portion of the saddle being broken away for purposes of illustration.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by reference characters, the saddle 11 of the present invention comprises, in general, a substantially horizontally extending seat or body portion 13 that is adapted to be engaged by the rider R, as seen in FIG. 1, and a supporting framework 15. for body portion 13. i

The shape of the body portion 13 is of primary importance, and particularly the shape or outline as viewed from above (FIG. 2). Thus, it will be seen, by referring to this figure, that body portion 13 is substantially Also, the present invention is 3,185,522 Patented May 25, 1,965

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spectively extends inwardly and forwardly and finally straight across at the mid-portion 27. From the foregoing, it can be seen that body portion 13 includes the enlarged side portions 29, 31 which respectively have rearwardly extending and substantially convex rearward ends 33, 35. Also, from the foregoing, it will be apparent that body portion 13 is arcuately curved forwardly between rearward ends 33, 35 to establish a recess 37 in the rearward part of the body portion, and which recess forms an important part of the present invention. The importance of recess 37 and enlarged portions 29, 31 can be appreciated when it is realized that when a rider R sits on saddle 11, his weight is respectively supported on enlarged portions 29, 31 with the ischia B1, B2 being respectively disposed over enlarged portions 29, 31, and with the terminal bone of the spine, or the coccyx, shown as at C, extending over recess 37. In other words, there is no portion of the saddle 11 below the coccyx whereby there is room for the coccyx to move without hitting the saddle. It will be understood that with other types of saddles in which there is no recess such as that at 37 and in which the rearward edge of the saddle extends substantially straight across, the coccyx is in position to hit against the saddle, particularly when riding over rough or bumpy surfaces.

For purposes of clarity .and in order better to understand the above-mentioned concept, the approximate positions of the places on the body portion 13 over which the ischia B1, B2 are disposed are shown in FIG. 2 in dotted lines as at P1 and P2, and the approximate position of the coccyx is shown as at C1.

Body portion 13 is preferably of composite construction and preferably includes a base 39 formed of a single piece of sheet metal by cutting and stamping operations. Base 39 includes a crown 41 that is shaped in substantially the same shape as the outline of body portion 13 shown in FIG. 2. Also, base 39 includes a downwardly turned flange 43 depending from the side edges of the crown. In addition, body portion 13 preferably includes a resilient pad 45, which is preferably formed of foam plastic or the like, and which rests on a top of base 39. The pad also is substantially the same symmetrical about its longitudinal axis, and from the narrow and somewhat rounded front end 17 the body portion curves outwardly and rearwardly on the opposite sides thereof as at portions 19, 21 from where it extends substantially straight rearward on the opposite sides thereof as at portions 23, 25. From the portions 23, 25, the outline of body portion 13 then reshape and outline as the outline of body portion 13 shown in FIG. 2. Additionally, body portion 13 includes a cover 47, formed of suitable material as plastic, leather or the like, which extends over pad 45 and over flanges 43 with the cover being attached by suitable wellknown means, not shown.

Supporting framework 15 is of any suitable construc tion well-known to those skilled in the art and, since it forms no part of the present invention, will not be described in detail. Supporting framework 15 is adjustably mounted on rod 49 in the usual manner and by any suitable well-known means, which includes the bolt and nut fastening means 51 that can be loosened to pivot saddle 11 relative to rod 49 and then tightened to hold the saddle in a selected place in the usual manner. The supporting framework 15 and the springs 53 are connected to crown 41 in any suitable well-known manner.

that, with the present saddle, a more comfortable ride is obtained, and it is particularly useful for those people who have back ailments that would otherwise be aggravated by pressure on the coccyx.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

A saddle for cycles and the like comprising a body portion including a rigid base, supporting means attached to said body portion for supporting said body portion from a cycle with said body portion having a substantially fiat and substantially horizontal top surface extending in substantially the same plane across the width thereof, said body portion being provided with a pronounced recess having a substantial depth and being at least onethird the overall width of said body portion and being at least twice as wide as deep and extending from the top to the bottom of said body portion in the rearward edge thereof for allowing room for the coccyx to move vertically and horizontally without hitting said body portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 572,163 12/96 Henderson 297-214 572,164 12/96 Henderson 297214 576,310 2/97 Henderson 297-214 609,459 8/98 Pansard 297-214 610,614 9/98 Smith 297214 630,911 8/99 Moore 297214 2,341,720 2/44 Kalter 297214 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,362 1894 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

